Interview - 5 min presentation - no slides....
Discussion
Some of you may have read my recent plight http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I have managed to secure an interview on Monday for a contracting post back in the company i left in November. They have asked me to prepare a 5 min presentation without slides on the 'key attributes i can bring to company xxxx'. I really want to get this postion and need to make an impact.
I was thinking about a play on words and wrtiting the skills i can bring....such as:
Possessing the gift of foresight
Being organized.
Knowing how to lead.
Good communicators.
Being pragmatic.
Being empathetic.
I was thinking of talking about my skills around these areas and writing each word on a pad of paper, but cleverly aligning the words above each other so another word is spelt downwards - rather like a crossword. I could make a big point of that at the end of my presention.
What word though - i thought about my name - but that could be very cheesy!
Any ideas? The skills listed above can be changed if other letters are needed.
I have managed to secure an interview on Monday for a contracting post back in the company i left in November. They have asked me to prepare a 5 min presentation without slides on the 'key attributes i can bring to company xxxx'. I really want to get this postion and need to make an impact.
I was thinking about a play on words and wrtiting the skills i can bring....such as:
Possessing the gift of foresight
Being organized.
Knowing how to lead.
Good communicators.
Being pragmatic.
Being empathetic.
I was thinking of talking about my skills around these areas and writing each word on a pad of paper, but cleverly aligning the words above each other so another word is spelt downwards - rather like a crossword. I could make a big point of that at the end of my presention.
What word though - i thought about my name - but that could be very cheesy!
Any ideas? The skills listed above can be changed if other letters are needed.
To be totally honest, and don't take this the wrong way, I wouldn't bother trying to do a gimmick. You will weaken your main presentation as you have to choose words or structure sentences to suit the gimmick.
Just be clear and concise, five minutes is a tiny amount of time and you say it is a contracting job so they are not making much investment all things considered.
I would suggest you look back at the job description and marry up your skills to each item.
Also quantify where possible. Rather than "ran project to budget" better to hear "Ran £3.5 million pound project with a team of twenty over 8 months and came in with £50,000 of contingency left delivering a product which generated £10 million of margin over the next five years".
Just be clear and concise, five minutes is a tiny amount of time and you say it is a contracting job so they are not making much investment all things considered.
I would suggest you look back at the job description and marry up your skills to each item.
Also quantify where possible. Rather than "ran project to budget" better to hear "Ran £3.5 million pound project with a team of twenty over 8 months and came in with £50,000 of contingency left delivering a product which generated £10 million of margin over the next five years".
If you left the company in November, and now you're trying to get back in, don't tell them you posess the gift of foresight.
Having worked there before, you could always consider the things you didn't like, and highlight the ways in which you can bring a different approach. Point out how you can improve what's currently being done without specifically telling them they're doing it wrong.
Having worked there before, you could always consider the things you didn't like, and highlight the ways in which you can bring a different approach. Point out how you can improve what's currently being done without specifically telling them they're doing it wrong.
Doofus said:
If you left the company in November, and now you're trying to get back in, don't tell them you posess the gift of foresight.
Having worked there before, you could always consider the things you didn't like, and highlight the ways in which you can bring a different approach. Point out how you can improve what's currently being done without specifically telling them they're doing it wrong.
Good point well made Doofus! Foresight - perhaps not......Having worked there before, you could always consider the things you didn't like, and highlight the ways in which you can bring a different approach. Point out how you can improve what's currently being done without specifically telling them they're doing it wrong.
1. Start with a creative opening. Make it personal to some extent as this is an interview question. Provide some insight (positively) into who you are
2. Identify three points you want to make. Tell them what they are
3. Tell them about each point in turn
4. At the end summarise the three points
5. End on a call to action. What are the next steps?
Do this without notes or props. The above structure will help and it will make three three points you choose far more memorable.
Decide if you will stand or sit. If you stand think about your posture.
Eye contact is really essential. Work your way around each person in the room. Try to make one point then move to the next person. This makes it hard for them to stop listening
Judge the energy level of the audience. You should be at that level +1
Don't do anything with props. This should be about your ability to engage and communicate
2. Identify three points you want to make. Tell them what they are
3. Tell them about each point in turn
4. At the end summarise the three points
5. End on a call to action. What are the next steps?
Do this without notes or props. The above structure will help and it will make three three points you choose far more memorable.
Decide if you will stand or sit. If you stand think about your posture.
Eye contact is really essential. Work your way around each person in the room. Try to make one point then move to the next person. This makes it hard for them to stop listening
Judge the energy level of the audience. You should be at that level +1
Don't do anything with props. This should be about your ability to engage and communicate
Elysium said:
1. Start with a creative opening. Make it personal to some extent as this is an interview question. Provide some insight (positively) into who you are
2. Identify three points you want to make. Tell them what they are
3. Tell them about each point in turn
4. At the end summarise the three points
5. End on a call to action. What are the next steps?
Do this without notes or props. The above structure will help and it will make three three points you choose far more memorable.
Decide if you will stand or sit. If you stand think about your posture.
Eye contact is really essential. Work your way around each person in the room. Try to make one point then move to the next person. This makes it hard for them to stop listening
Judge the energy level of the audience. You should be at that level +1
Don't do anything with props. This should be about your ability to engage and communicate
Good answer indeed, but 5 mins is very very tight to get all that in. One min intro plus one min conclude, leaves one min each on the three points. Bit cramped?2. Identify three points you want to make. Tell them what they are
3. Tell them about each point in turn
4. At the end summarise the three points
5. End on a call to action. What are the next steps?
Do this without notes or props. The above structure will help and it will make three three points you choose far more memorable.
Decide if you will stand or sit. If you stand think about your posture.
Eye contact is really essential. Work your way around each person in the room. Try to make one point then move to the next person. This makes it hard for them to stop listening
Judge the energy level of the audience. You should be at that level +1
Don't do anything with props. This should be about your ability to engage and communicate
slow_poke said:
Good answer indeed, but 5 mins is very very tight to get all that in. One min intro plus one min conclude, leaves one min each on the three points. Bit cramped?
That's probably about what they have timed it for. One minute per point and 10 seconds to summarise before and after per point, which thirty seconds of housekeeping and "any questions" punchline.It's not an actual presentation per se, more to see if you are capable of speaking coherently.
That's a horrible cliche that's been done so many times in US marketing from the 70s that it'll leave you looking dated
Just go in, use familiarity of the systems and processes as a foot in the door. They just want a job doing and doing well for a fair price. No need to be schmaltzy. You're a contractor, they need ROI
Just go in, use familiarity of the systems and processes as a foot in the door. They just want a job doing and doing well for a fair price. No need to be schmaltzy. You're a contractor, they need ROI
Elysium said:
1. Start with a creative opening. Make it personal to some extent as this is an interview question. Provide some insight (positively) into who you are
2. Identify three points you want to make. Tell them what they are
3. Tell them about each point in turn
4. At the end summarise the three points
5. End on a call to action. What are the next steps?
Do this without notes or props. The above structure will help and it will make three three points you choose far more memorable.
Decide if you will stand or sit. If you stand think about your posture.
Eye contact is really essential. Work your way around each person in the room. Try to make one point then move to the next person. This makes it hard for them to stop listening
Judge the energy level of the audience. You should be at that level +1
Don't do anything with props. This should be about your ability to engage and communicate
This would have been my advice too. 5 minutes is plenty of time provided you don't ramble and waste words.2. Identify three points you want to make. Tell them what they are
3. Tell them about each point in turn
4. At the end summarise the three points
5. End on a call to action. What are the next steps?
Do this without notes or props. The above structure will help and it will make three three points you choose far more memorable.
Decide if you will stand or sit. If you stand think about your posture.
Eye contact is really essential. Work your way around each person in the room. Try to make one point then move to the next person. This makes it hard for them to stop listening
Judge the energy level of the audience. You should be at that level +1
Don't do anything with props. This should be about your ability to engage and communicate
The only refinement I'd add to the format is that when you make a point say "initiative" and elaborate on it, provide some evidence that substantiates your claim.
Try and get as close to 5 minutes dead as you can without rushing. Pauses are a useful way of creating a break between each section as well as way of demonstrating calmness and confidence. Therefore thorough rehearsing is essential to get the pace and timing spot on.
As for sitting or standing, if I have been sitting for the first few minutes of the interview anyway then I would remain seated. In the old style scenario of screens/flip charts then it's often easier to stand. Also I normally remove my watch and have it on the table in front of me. I think it shows that you are taking the time limit seriously. Next to the watch I usually place a very small note pad. I would not necessarily refer to my notes but the pad also serves as a useful way of capturing peoples names. If this is the first time I have met the panel then I will quickly jot down their names as they introduce themselves. This way during Q&A you can refer to them by name in your answers without worrying about forgetting. This may seem like overkill but it's almost a phobia with me that I forget people's names withing 5 seconds of being introduced.
Good luck.
Thanks all.
I have just been notified that I did not get the position.
The 5 min presentation went really well and I was shocked that I hit the 5 min on the button, with, "Any questions, please"?
I thought it went really well, but I have had the feedback literally 5 mins ago that I did not get it. I have asked for some further feedback, so i can try to improve for next time.
I have a couple of days off from my horrible current workplace, but am giving up all hope.
I have just been notified that I did not get the position.
The 5 min presentation went really well and I was shocked that I hit the 5 min on the button, with, "Any questions, please"?
I thought it went really well, but I have had the feedback literally 5 mins ago that I did not get it. I have asked for some further feedback, so i can try to improve for next time.
I have a couple of days off from my horrible current workplace, but am giving up all hope.
Get the No's out of the way first so you can move on to the Yes's
ETA - this was a contract though, so it's just a task or process that needs to be done, right? It's not a job as such? While feedback on not getting awarded a contract can be valuable, this is, I'm assuming, different to a job interview. You need to pitch what your company does that helps their company hit this 'thing' they're trying to do
ETA - this was a contract though, so it's just a task or process that needs to be done, right? It's not a job as such? While feedback on not getting awarded a contract can be valuable, this is, I'm assuming, different to a job interview. You need to pitch what your company does that helps their company hit this 'thing' they're trying to do
Edited by andy-xr on Thursday 18th August 10:09
slow_poke said:
Good answer indeed, but 5 mins is very very tight to get all that in. One min intro plus one min conclude, leaves one min each on the three points. Bit cramped?
Intro and conclusion can be as little as a single sentence each. The discipline of trying to distil your message into three brief point can be quite enlightening. Don't be put off by the slightly cliched structure. Its about creating impact and the audience remembering what you said. I do a fair bit of public speaking and it really works. Shame the op didn't get the gig. Better luck next time.
andy-xr said:
That's a horrible cliche that's been done so many times in US marketing from the 70s that it'll leave you looking dated
Just go in, use familiarity of the systems and processes as a foot in the door. They just want a job doing and doing well for a fair price. No need to be schmaltzy. You're a contractor, they need ROI
The key is to make it natural and personal, the structure should be barely noticeable. I thought this was a cliched approach myself until I saw it done properly. When I did I was absolutely amazed. Just go in, use familiarity of the systems and processes as a foot in the door. They just want a job doing and doing well for a fair price. No need to be schmaltzy. You're a contractor, they need ROI
Perfect example here from Ashton Kucher. Informal, engaging, but the structure I have described is there to the letter:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNXwKGZHmDc
And all accomplished in 4 mins!
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